Rapper

He is known for releasing 24 mixtapes and six EPs in a space of two years.

In 2015, he released more than 20 videos as part of his #VisualVrydag series. Artists such as Reason, Stogie T, DJ Ready D, DJ Switch, among others, couldn’t help but collaborate with him.

At the moment, YoungstaCPT is the most visible Cape Town-based hip-hop artist nationally.

He recently won the prize for best lyricist at the South African Hip Hop awards, beating lyrical titans Stogie T, Blaklez, Ginger Trill and Shane Eagle.

What makes this award special is that it’s the first time a Cape Town artist has taken it home since the awards’ inception.

Last year, the rapper, who was born in Wynberg in Cape Town, toured some parts of Europe, as well as Australia, and released an album, a mixtape and two EPs.

Work and meaning

YoungstaCPT raps in his Cape coloured accent, which has closed some doors for him — his video was once rejected by MTV Base for being “too Cape Town”.

The rapper is breaking barriers, getting the closest to the mainstream than any Cape Town artist before him. He recently appeared on Riky Rick’s EP Stay Shining.

YoungstaCPT sticks to his story of representing his city as if his career depends on it. He tells the story of growing up coloured in Cape Town in a style that is both vicious and eloquent.

This makes him an important voice for the coloured community that’s not well represented in the arts or in mainstream media. He has given thousands of Cape Flats children something to believe in: when he appears on TV, they see someone who looks and talks like them but isn’t a gangster or a caricature.

Future plans

He is releasing his 30th mixtape this year, and more European tours are in the pipeline.

He will own the year, again, on his own terms.

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